Vehicle Identification Numbers

An investigation that began in 1996 and crossed state lines has ended in the arrests of four people and the recovery of 13 stolen vehicles worth approximately $485,000. The New Haven office of the Connecticut Regional Auto Theft Task Force began investigating reports of car thefts from dealerships in the New Haven area in 1996. Police said the investigation revealed similar thefts throughout the state and that two New York residents were paying other individuals to steal cars and drive them to rest areas along I-95 near the New York border.

WHAT'S BREAKING Bond Posted After Mall Arrest ENFIELD -- A 25-year-old local woman who was arrested Saturday after fleeing security at Enfield Square Mall with two young children in tow was released on a $50,000 non-surety bond Monday. Candy Rock, of 59 Garden St., is charged with two counts first-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of risk of injury to a minor, interfering/resisting arrest, second-degree breach of peace and sixth-degree larceny. Rock was arraigned Monday in Superior Court in Enfield and her next appearance is scheduled for June 21. Store security noticed Rock attempting to steal an $8 pair of sunglasses around 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Claire's in the mall, Deputy Police Chief Anjo Timmerman said.

As the trial of a Glastonbury dentist accused of trafficking in expensive stolen cars began in Superior Court, two stories began to emerge. Police officers who testified Wednesday said that in December 2004 they discovered a stolen vehicle in front of Mark Stuart's office off Hebron Avenue, several more vehicles at his Thompson Street home and dozens of titles and other motor vehicle documents in the kitchen and dining room. But defense attorney John Franckling said that at no time were the vehicles hidden from view and noted that Stuart cooperated fully with police after finding out the vehicles were stolen.

As the trial of a Glastonbury dentist accused of trafficking in expensive stolen cars began in Superior Court, two stories began to emerge. Police officers who testified Wednesday said that in December 2004 they discovered a stolen vehicle in front of Mark Stuart's office off Hebron Avenue, several more vehicles at his Thompson Street home and dozens of titles and other motor vehicle documents in the kitchen and dining room. But defense attorney John Franckling said that at no time were the vehicles hidden from view and noted that Stuart cooperated fully with police after finding out the vehicles were stolen.

As the trial of a Glastonbury dentist accused of trafficking in expensive stolen cars began in Superior Court, two stories began to emerge. Police officers who testified Wednesday said that in December 2004 they discovered a stolen vehicle in front of Mark Stuart's office off Hebron Avenue, several more vehicles at his Thompson Street home and dozens of titles and other motor vehicle documents in the kitchen and dining room. But defense attorney John Franckling said that at no time were the vehicles hidden from view and noted that Stuart cooperated fully with police after finding out the vehicles were stolen.

As the trial of a Glastonbury dentist accused of trafficking in expensive stolen cars began in Superior Court, two stories began to emerge. Police officers who testified Wednesday said that in December 2004 they discovered a stolen vehicle in front of Mark Stuart's office off Hebron Avenue, several more vehicles at his Thompson Street home and dozens of titles and other motor vehicle documents in the kitchen and dining room. But defense attorney John Franckling said that at no time were the vehicles hidden from view and noted that Stuart cooperated fully with police after finding out the vehicles were stolen.

East Hartford police are lax in tracking down the owners of abandoned, stolen or wrecked cars. But the problem is not confined to that town, according to officials at the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee should look into how diligent police in all municipalities are in reuniting lost cars with their owners. Police officers are supposed to notify owners when vehicles are recovered. But state law allows officers to give cars worth less than $100 to salvage yards if the owners are hard to find.

First Selectman Henry Robinson said he is happy and a little surprised at the 3.3 percent increase in the recently released 1993 grand list. The total assessed value of taxable property increased about $10.3 million, to $324.8 million, and Robinson said that shows the town has grown. "Three percent is not a bad increase," Robinson said. "I really wasn't expecting that big of an increase, though I'd have thought that we'd be in the 1.5 to 2 range. That shows growth, and growth is always good."

Three local used car dealerships may have made thousands of dollars in profits by "washing" the titles of restored junk cars and selling the vehicles to unsuspecting drivers, according to details in recently released search warrants. Police raided Prestige Automotor and Diamond I Industries on Christian Lane and Town & Country Automotive on Arch Street in June as part of an investigation into their business practices. The owners of two of the companies Monday denied wrongdoing, and no arrests have been made.

Odds are if residents had a motor vehicle stolen out of their driveways in the past two years, it was an all-terrain vehicle. Thefts of these vehicles locally have kept the town's resident state trooper very busy. Earlier this month, Trooper John Farnham wrapped up a lengthy investigation and recovered four stolen ATVs. Farnham's work led to the arrest of three local teenagers on charges including third-degree burglary, criminal mischief and second-degree larceny. The teenagers charged in connection with the thefts were: Craig Johnson Jr., 18, of Daly Road; Joshua Higgins, 18, of Jan Drive; and Jonathon Randazzo, 17, of Rattlesnake Ledge in Salem.

As the trial of a Glastonbury dentist accused of trafficking in expensive stolen cars began in Superior Court, two stories began to emerge. Police officers who testified Wednesday said that in December 2004 they discovered a stolen vehicle in front of Mark Stuart's office off Hebron Avenue, several more vehicles at his Thompson Street home and dozens of titles and other motor vehicle documents in the kitchen and dining room. But defense attorney John Franckling said that at no time were the vehicles hidden from view and noted that Stuart cooperated fully with police after finding out the vehicles were stolen.

As the trial of a Glastonbury dentist accused of trafficking in expensive stolen cars began in Superior Court, two stories began to emerge. Police officers who testified Wednesday said that in December 2004 they discovered a stolen vehicle in front of Mark Stuart's office off Hebron Avenue, several more vehicles at his Thompson Street home and dozens of titles and other motor vehicle documents in the kitchen and dining room. But defense attorney John Franckling said that at no time were the vehicles hidden from view and noted that Stuart cooperated fully with police after finding out the vehicles were stolen.

Three local used car dealerships may have made thousands of dollars in profits by "washing" the titles of restored junk cars and selling the vehicles to unsuspecting drivers, according to details in recently released search warrants. Police raided Prestige Automotor and Diamond I Industries on Christian Lane and Town & Country Automotive on Arch Street in June as part of an investigation into their business practices. The owners of two of the companies Monday denied wrongdoing, and no arrests have been made.

Odds are if residents had a motor vehicle stolen out of their driveways in the past two years, it was an all-terrain vehicle. Thefts of these vehicles locally have kept the town's resident state trooper very busy. Earlier this month, Trooper John Farnham wrapped up a lengthy investigation and recovered four stolen ATVs. Farnham's work led to the arrest of three local teenagers on charges including third-degree burglary, criminal mischief and second-degree larceny. The teenagers charged in connection with the thefts were: Craig Johnson Jr., 18, of Daly Road; Joshua Higgins, 18, of Jan Drive; and Jonathon Randazzo, 17, of Rattlesnake Ledge in Salem.

An investigation that began in 1996 and crossed state lines has ended in the arrests of four people and the recovery of 13 stolen vehicles worth approximately $485,000. The New Haven office of the Connecticut Regional Auto Theft Task Force began investigating reports of car thefts from dealerships in the New Haven area in 1996. Police said the investigation revealed similar thefts throughout the state and that two New York residents were paying other individuals to steal cars and drive them to rest areas along I-95 near the New York border.

Talib Ali works as a maintenance contractor in Hartford. When he finishes that job, he drives to New Haven to work the second shift at Yale-New Haven Hospital. As with so many people in the land of steady driving, Ali needs his car. No car, no second job, possibly no first job. So when his car gets stolen, which has happened twice in the past two months, he's in a jam. So are others like him. "A lot of people are struggling, and the car is the only thing between them and oblivion," Ali said.

Talib Ali works as a maintenance contractor in Hartford. When he finishes that job, he drives to New Haven to work the second shift at Yale-New Haven Hospital. As with so many people in the land of steady driving, Ali needs his car. No car, no second job, possibly no first job. So when his car gets stolen, which has happened twice in the past two months, he's in a jam. So are others like him. "A lot of people are struggling, and the car is the only thing between them and oblivion," Ali said.

WHAT'S BREAKING Bond Posted After Mall Arrest ENFIELD -- A 25-year-old local woman who was arrested Saturday after fleeing security at Enfield Square Mall with two young children in tow was released on a $50,000 non-surety bond Monday. Candy Rock, of 59 Garden St., is charged with two counts first-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of risk of injury to a minor, interfering/resisting arrest, second-degree breach of peace and sixth-degree larceny. Rock was arraigned Monday in Superior Court in Enfield and her next appearance is scheduled for June 21. Store security noticed Rock attempting to steal an $8 pair of sunglasses around 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Claire's in the mall, Deputy Police Chief Anjo Timmerman said.

First Selectman Henry Robinson said he is happy and a little surprised at the 3.3 percent increase in the recently released 1993 grand list. The total assessed value of taxable property increased about $10.3 million, to $324.8 million, and Robinson said that shows the town has grown. "Three percent is not a bad increase," Robinson said. "I really wasn't expecting that big of an increase, though I'd have thought that we'd be in the 1.5 to 2 range. That shows growth, and growth is always good."

East Hartford police are lax in tracking down the owners of abandoned, stolen or wrecked cars. But the problem is not confined to that town, according to officials at the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee should look into how diligent police in all municipalities are in reuniting lost cars with their owners. Police officers are supposed to notify owners when vehicles are recovered. But state law allows officers to give cars worth less than $100 to salvage yards if the owners are hard to find.